This is the first year I’ve devised a reading challenge as a way to diversify my reading a bit. I used it as a guideline while also granting myself permission to abandon it if it became to onerous. I’m happy to say that I did not abandon it and that I’m judging my experiment relatively successful.

I had originally assigned a genre or category to a month, knowing full well I would be reading out of order. Because I’m a member of a book club and need to read assigned books, I also need to be able to read what speaks to me at a particular time.

There were three categories that I didn’t manage to complete and categories that I read for the first time and really enjoyed. There are some categories I would swap out for others, such as wanting to add a cookbook category. I loved every book (even when a couple of them made me uncomfortable) on this list and would recommend them without hesitation.

• Memoir and Autobiography: Educated by Tara Westover
• Romance: Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
• Non-fiction: Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans.
• Graphic Novels and Comics: Did Not Complete
• On Writing: Did Not Complete
• Middle Grade: Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
• Humor: Did Not Complete
• Science Fiction: Company Town by Madeline Ashby
• Historical: The Huntress by Kate Quinn
• Young Adult: Trickster Drift by Eden Robinson
• Poetry: #IndianLovePoems by Tenille K. Campbell
• Fantasy: Protect The Prince by Jennifer Estep

My goal was to diversify my reading and I think the above list proves that I did. I’m thinking of setting up another challenge for 2020 and I’m open to category suggestions. Or book suggestions!

Until next time…

Do you set a reading challenge or goal for the year?